Why You Should Get an Old Girl, For Your First Rig
Four wheel driving is a bit of a mix.
In one way, it’s a very simple endeavour. You get in your car and you go. You don’t over think things, as it’s often an attempt to get away from the complications of modern life.
But sadly, it does end up being more complex than we’d like. There’s vehicle choice; modifications; driving skills; recovery gear; communication; navigation; camping gear; mechanical maintenance/repairs; and the list goes on.
It can be a steep learning curve if you’re new to it, and if you want to tackle that curve in a brand new, expensive vehicle, it can become rather costly. You also might be selling yourself short in terms of skill development.
Scratching It & Denting It
Anywhere worth four wheel driving, is going to have sections where you scratch your car.
It’s not even so much about developing the skills to avoid this, but learning to cope with the screeching sound as branches run down the side of your car.
But aside from that, there’s also denting. As your skills improve and you’re able to finesse your way through a gnarly track, you will be able to avoid denting your car. But this is a skill that often requires a bit of panel damage to develop.
If you’re in a brand new 300 series or Y62 Patrol, you probably wont take it down the types of tracks that will help you develop you’re off-roading skills.
Learning to Wheel it Properly & With Mechanical Sympathy
If you’re using automatic ascent or descent control, are you really the driver? Or a glorified passenger?
These types of setting can be really handy, but if you start your journey in a car that has them, you’re not going to develop the skills to do it yourself. Not only that, but you probably wont gain an understanding of what the car is actually doing to be able to achieve this. If you’re a seasoned off-roader and you’re in a car that’s got all the fruit, you can actually feel what it’s doing with the drive train, that achieves the impressive traction.
There’s a long running debate between advocates for driving manual 4WDs, and those who believe automatics are the better option.
Even if you’re in the auto camp, there’s still a lot of benefits to learning in a manual.
Aside from the lack of clutch, autos have a torque converter. To skip a long-winded explanation, a torque converter absorbs and smooths abrupt power inputs from the engine, into the drive train. If you’ve ever put your foot down in an auto and noticed a delay between when the engine revs up and when you feel the power to the wheels, it’s the torque converter.
What this does is create a delay between input and output, which undermines the feedback to the driver. It does have practical applications and can be helpful, but it does prevent learning how to manage drive and traction.
In a manual, you are the bridge between the engine and the wheels. Your clutch control will directly impact the drivetrain. You learn to manage engine speed and how it relates to traction. You also get instant feedback as to whether your inputs are creating a smooth and steady outcome, or if you’re causing the wheels to spin. Maybe you’re too aggressive with revving the engine and unloading the clutch, and break a CV joint or an axle. That’s not so bad when it’s on an older car with cheap replacement parts. It is an excellent teacher as well.
Modifying It
Wanna put big muddies on a brand new 300 series? Can you really bring yourself to cut into the panels of such an expensive car and fit some cheap aftermarket flares? It’s a different story with an old junker.
Ultimately, there’s some modifications that are practical and very helpful and some that are a bit stupid or a waste of money. You’re much better off playing around with these things to see how they suit your needs, on a cheaper car.
Depreciation – Less Financial Downside to Switching Hobbies
I don’t personally understand it, but not everyone is going to stick with four wheel driving as a hobby or lifestyle pursuit.
Less sunken cost is a huge benefit, if you eventually change your mind.
Less Stress = More Fun
If it’s your first time down a rough track, it’s not going to be enjoyable if you’re really stressing about your pride and joy.
If you’re in an old car that didn’t cost much, it’s going to be a lot more fun.
And really, that’s what it’s all about: Having fun.
DIY Maintenance & Repairs
Financial risk and maybe even factory warranties, are likely to prevent people from working on their own cars.
The reality with four wheel driving, is that the more remote you go, the more important it is to know how to work on your own vehicle.
The more time you spend working on your own car, the better off you’ll be when you inevitably have to perform a track side repair. Not only will this save you hundreds at a time when you’re doing maintenance or servicing, but it might save you many thousands of dollars from not requiring a tow truck to the middle of nowhere.
